Federal minister praises WA Libs on health

A federal cabinet minister has praised the West Australian Liberal government's management of hospitals a week from polling day.

The West Australian Labor opposition has declined to ask Prime Minister Julia Gillard and her ministers to join its election campaign.

But with Colin Barnett's minority Liberal government facing the voters on March 9, federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek has offered his team some praise.

"The West Australian government have been good when it comes to emergency waiting times," she told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday.

Western Australia had the country's best hospital emergency care, with 78.5 per cent of patients treated within four hours, up from 71.3 per cent in 2009/10, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare figures show.

Ms Plibersek was critical of Victoria's coalition government, with just 65 per cent of patients treated within four hours last year, down from 65.9 per cent.

"Victoria has been going backwards this whole time," she said.

"These are figures the Victorian government could have released publicly at any time and have chosen to hide from the Victorian people."

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